The
Glassboro and Clayton
Gloucester County, New Jersey
Connection

New Jersey, the Garden State!

This statement applied especially to South New Jersey, Gloucester County during the early 1900's. Glassboro was the point of arrival for my maternal and paternal grandparents, Jesse and Lula Gant Bright and James and Anna Belle Neblett Harris. After arriving from Florida and Virginia, the Bright family settled in Glassboro, New Jersey and the Harris family in Clayton, New Jersey. Their children and my parents are Clarence Mack and Mary Bright Harris.

The one constant factor for these newcomers from the south was the promise of a thriving New Jersey agriculture and its personal and employment benefits. Also, racial tensions were less prevalent, although not absent, in the north. My ancestors grew many of the same agricultural products in the north as they did in the south such as sweet potatoes, greens, white potatoes, peanuts, black-eyed peas, and others. However the northern winters were colder and more severe. Personal and civil freedoms that they experienced in the "new" north were appreciable. They had a new life. Negative memories of the old south were seldom discussed with successive generations.

South Jersey Glass

Glassboro and Clayton, New Jersey, as well as many other South Jersey towns, owed their existence to pioneer glass "blowing" companies or houses, bountiful agriculture, and wild game. In 1775, the seven Stanger brothers established the first glass house in Glassboro. Later, Clayton Glass Works was started by the Moore Brothers and it was located several blocks from the home of my Harris grandparents. My father, Clarence Harris, used to take me to the ruins of the Clayton Glass Works to search for glass collectibles.

The Italian Connection

Newly arriving African Americans and Italians to the Glassboro, N. J. area set up their initial residence around the Lake and Popular Streets section of town known as Uptown or In-Town. Later, African Americans moved to South Glassboro, the Lawns, and the Acres purchasing their own homes, land, and small farms. These areas of town were originally occupied by African Americans but white families are moving into these areas in search of attractive real estate opportunities. Many cultural ideas and benefits were exchanged between early Italians and African Americans. A fig tree was given to my grandmother by an Italian neighbor. My grandmother devised ways of protecting the tree from the harsh New Jersey frost and winters. The tree produced many generations of beautiful figs. White and purple grapes were shared and grown for years. In many cases, foods that my ancestors brought from the south were shared and exchanged with the Italians for their Mediterannean spices, herbs and foods.

The Church

Like so many African American families, my family depended and relied upon the "Church" for its survival and sustenance. However when I was growing up, I couldn't understand why there were so many different African American churches in a small town like Glassboro, despite personality differences that some of these newcomers obviously had. My theory is that families arriving from southern states tended to worship together due to the need of security and familiarity. Thus, you have a predominance of Virginians and Floridians in local churches like First Baptist Church in Glassboro and a majority of Virginians in St. Paul Baptist Church in Clayton, N. J. My home church, Mt Olive Baptist Church, was located on Lake Street, several blocks from the site of my grandparent's first home. Mt Olive Baptist Church recently changed its name and location to The Christian Community Church, 5 Redmond Avenue, Glassboro, New Jersey. The original Glassboro High School(later a Catholic school) which was down the street from the Mt Olive Baptist Church was demolished due to highway construction. This area of New Jersey was and still is a good place to raise children, my past social relationships and friends are still meaningful!